Head-to-head · Writing Apps
Novlr vs Storyist
Novlr leads on 1 check, Storyist on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreNovlr · 5.8/10
- Free planonly Novlr
Novlr scores higher on our rubric for writing apps: 5.8 against 4.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #37 and #47.
Novlr offers free plan; Storyist doesn't. Storyist offers mobile apps; Novlr doesn't.
Novlr is the better fit for goal-driven novelists. Storyist is the better fit for mac and iOS authors planning books or screenplays.
- Novlr fits best
Goal-driven novelists
- Storyist fits best
Mac and iOS authors planning books or screenplays
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Side by side
| Feature | Novlr 5.8/10 Visit ↗ | Storyist 4.8/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 5.8 | 4.8 |
| Ranking | #37 in Writing Apps | #47 in Writing Apps |
| Best for | Goal-driven novelists | Mac and iOS authors planning books or screenplays |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $8/mo | $19 one-time |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | macOS, iOS |
| Integrations | 2 integrations | 6 integrations |
| Features Novlr 4/5 · Storyist 4/5 | ||
| Publishing tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time collaboration | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Version history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile apps | — | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Export formats | Extensive | Extensive |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Novlr is a browser-based creative writing workspace for novelists and other writers who want their drafting, planning and progress tracking in one place. It combines a fullscreen focus mode with project and chapter organization, notes,… Read the review → |
Storyist is a creative writing app for novelists and screenwriters who want drafting and project planning in one workspace. Its rich-text editor supports stylesheets, comments, images, headers, footers, spelling, and smart quotes. For… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Novlr — where it wins
- Free plan includes focus mode, writing goals, planning and two projects.
- Studio adds unlimited projects, version history and proofreading tools.
- Novlr Sites and cloud backups support author publishing workflows.
Where it doesn't
- The Free plan is limited to two projects.
- Starter limits projects to 10 and version history to 30 days.
- Mobile access is through browsers rather than a native app.
Storyist — where it wins
- Combines rich-text editing with screenplay templates and formatting.
- Story sheets, outlines, and index cards support story planning.
- Exports books to ePub, Kindle, and PDF; supports multiple cloud services.
Where it doesn't
- Available only as separate macOS and iOS applications.
- The macOS app costs more upfront than the iOS app.
- Each platform has its own purchase and minimum OS requirement.
- Novlr5.8/10 · Free plan
A browser-based novel-writing workspace with planning, goals and publishing tools.
Visit NovlrFull verdict → - Storyist4.8/10 · Paid
A Mac and iOS writing app with story-planning tools and extensive book exports.
Visit StoryistFull verdict →
All writing apps comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update